Exercising apparatus



LG4L355 Sept 6, 1927..

G. A. REYNOLDS EXERCISIN G APPARATUS Filed March .12. 1925 2% TNES s Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

GEORGE A. REYNOLDS, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

nxnnorsine APPARATUS.

Application filed March 12, 1925. Serial No. 14,959.

This invention relates to certain new and Figure 2 is a. front end View of the same taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2. j

Broadly considered, the apparatus consists of a hammock-like structure combined with means for rocking the hammock about a stationary axis to alternately effect an elevating and raising movement of the opposite sides of the hammock.

As here illustrated, the hammock is formed of a base member -1- provided with uprights 2- and -3 at its opposite ends. The uprights 2 and 3 carry at their upper ends pivotally mounted cross-bars numbered -4. and -5 respectively, such pivotal connection being made in any suitable manner, as by means of journals 6 around which the cross-bars -4 and 5 are adapted to be rocked, the pivotal axes of the cross-bars 4- and 5- being in alignment and maintained stationary and being at substantially the cen ter of the bars so that the bars which are preferably of small form and size extend equal distances to opposite sides of the respective uprights -2 and 3.

The corresponding ends of the cross-bars land 5-, i. e. the ends projecting to the same side of the axis -7- of the cross bars are connected together by means of side rails -7 and -8 respectively, so as to form a substantially rectangular frame rockable about a central longitudinal axis. The side rails 7 and -8 carry the ham mock proper, which may, as illustrated, consist of a strip of canvas or other fabric, the opposite side edges of which are connected to the respective side-rails 7 and -8, and the central portion of which loops down between the side-rails so as to'constitute a carrier for a patient, and Within which the patient may safely lie during the rocking ofthe structure.

A rocking movement of this hommock structure about the pivot journals '6 may be effected in any suitable manner, as fori'nstance by means of pitman 9, pivotally connected by bolt 10 to the cross-bar 5-, and eccentrically connected by bolt -llto the rotary gear 12 mounted on the stub shaft l3-, and driven by the relatively small inter-meshing gear 14 mounted upon the armature shaft --l5 of an electric motor 16. The gear ratio may be any desired to effect a predetermined reduction in speed.

It will be obvious that as the gear l t drives gear -l2 the pitman -9 will cause a rocking movement of the rectangular frame consisting of the cross-bars l and 5 and side-rails 7 and 8- to thereby alternately raise and lower the 0pposite edges of the hammock proper or canvas loop 17- to thereby cause a rolling movement alternately in opposite directions of a patient lying within the canvas loop.

It will be apparent that the lowest portion of the fabric loop --17- is always substantially beneath the axis of the hammock frame, and at substantially a uniform elevation, but that the part of the canvas loop 17- that constitutes the lowest portion is constantly varying in accordance with the rocking movement, and as gravity tends to maintain a patient in the lowest portion of the loop, a rolling movement of the patient is caused in accordance with the movement of the covers of the loop.

This movement of the patient caused by this rocking movement of the hammock about a stationary axis has been found to bl very elficient in causing a gradual reduction in weight of the patient, and altho I have shown and described a specific structure as illustrative of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire torestrict myself to the details of form, construction or arrangement of the same, as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a pair of pivoted cross-bars, a pair of spaced side bars connected at their opposite ends to respective cross-bars to form a substantially rectangular structure, a flexible fabric of considerably greater length than the distance between said cross-bars and having one end connected to one side bar and its. other end connected to the other side bar, and means for rocking the cross bars to alternately raise and lower the opposite side bars.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced uprights, a separate crossbar pivotally connected to the upper end of each upright, side bars connecting the crossbars to form a rectangular structure, a loop hammock carried by the side bars, a pitman pivotally connected to one of the side bars and eccentrically connected to a rotary member, and means for rotating said member.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

GEORGE A. REYNOLDS. v 

